Next stop: JHS history in the making

Members of the Jacksonville High School boys soccer team leave with a police escort through town Thursday as they began their journey to the state finals near Chicago.

Members of the Jacksonville High School boys soccer team leave with a police escort through town Thursday as they began their journey to the state finals near Chicago.

Photo: Samantha McDaniel-Ogletree | Journal-Courier

Photo: Samantha McDaniel-Ogletree | Journal-Courier

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Members of the Jacksonville High School boys soccer team leave with a police escort through town Thursday as they began their journey to the state finals near Chicago.

Members of the Jacksonville High School boys soccer team leave with a police escort through town Thursday as they began their journey to the state finals near Chicago.

Photo: Samantha McDaniel-Ogletree | Journal-Courier

Next stop: JHS history in the making

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Red and silver balloons dotted the Community Park fence along Morton Avenue, red ribbons lined the streets and small groups stood holding signs or cheering as the Jacksonville High School boys soccer team left town Thursday for the Illinois High School Association Class 2A State Final Tournament for the first time in JHS history.

The team left for Chicago among fanfare as it prepares to challenge three Chicago-area schools for the top spot.

Team captain Steven Albers and Brandon McCombs said this is an exciting time for the team, especially the seniors who are going to be playing the last game of their high school careers.

“This is a cool experience,” Albers said. “It doesn’t get much better than this.”

This is the first time Jacksonville has made it this far, only making it into the top 16 in the past before being ousted from the finals. The team’s record this season is 21-4.

“There are only four teams who can say they were in the final four,” McCombs said. “Being one of those four is very exciting.”

“A couple of us didn’t make it out of regionals a few years ago,” Albers said. “We made it this far, and we’re going to make it as far as possible this year.”

Coach Evan Philpott said the players will spend this morning practicing in preparation for the afternoon game.

“These guys have been playing from a young age and they are getting a glimpse at what’s possible,” Philpott said.”They are playing on the biggest stage and its a special moment for our players. Since we are there, we are going all out for it.”

Philpott said while the team will have practice, it can’t practice some of the things that has made it successful this year and he is hoping the team continues to play like it has most of the season — together.

“They’ve stepped up and have been playing as one right now,” Philpott said. ” We have one heart, we all run and move to one heartbeat.”

More than 100 students from JHS will be traveling this morning to Chicago to show their support.

“Knowing we have a fifth of the school coming, no matter the reason, is awesome,” McCombs said. “They are really supportive of us and want to watch us play.”

Jacksonville will compete against Chicago Mount Carmel at Hoffman Estates High School at 1 p.m. Lisle Benet Academy will play Chicago Latin in the second semifinal game at 3 p.m.

“Of course we want to win,” McCombs said, “but we just want to enjoy it, too.”

Samantha McDaniel-Ogletree can be reached at 217-245-6121, ext. 1233, or on Twitter @JCNews_samantha.